“It was certainly a pleasure to read in yesterday’s Mercury that the State Government would insist public open space and access have priority over commercial development around the edge of the River Derwent”, said Simon Branigan of Environment Tasmania (“Eyes off the riverfront”, Mercury September 11, page 9).

Download pdf version: http://www.saveralphsbay.org/pdf/SRBETMediaRelA12Sep09.pdf

Lisa Singh MHA was quoted in yesterday’s Mercury as saying there would be no conversion of the Claremont Golf Club course into mansions with blocks running down to the high water mark or private jetties.

“How different Ms. Singh’s comments are from the State Government’s in-principle commitment to sell the Crown Land of the entire Ralphs Bay Conservation Area to the Walker Corporation”, said Save Ralphs Bay spokeswoman, Jane MacDonald.

“In the recent RPDC Hearings, there was no dispute that the slab of Derwent Crown Land on offer to the Walker Corporation is an internationally significant bird habitat because it supports well over 1% of the entire Australasian population of the Pied Oystercatcher.  The largest survey of public opinion on the proposal showed 73% opposition to the plan to gouge up these sandflats, which Walker Corp. proposes to turn into a construction site until at least 2028”.

Mr. Branigan added, “We’d like to see a bit of consistency here.  Are Derwent foreshores up for sale to developers who seek to destroy them, or are they not?”

Save Ralphs Bay Inc. and Environment Tasmania call on the Tasmanian state government to protect all Derwent foreshores, maintaining public access, biodiversity and the natural vistas which are much valued by residents and visitors alike.